Improved Thermal Conductivity and Energy Storage Properties of Graphitized Carbon Black Based Magnesium Nitrate Hexahydrate Composite

Abstract

AbstractLatent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) using phase change materials (PCMs) are an effective way to store energy. Here we demonstrated the effect of carbon nano-material include graphitized carbon black on the thermal conductivity and energy storage properties of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate (MNH), an inorganic salt hydrate phase change material. The MNH-carbon nanocomposite was prepared using melt mixing method by dispersing the carbon nano-material at a mass fraction of 0.5 wt% in MNH. The as-prepared composite was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) confirmed no chemical interaction between the MNH and carbon nano-material in MNH-carbon nanocomposite. The thermal conductivity of the sample in the solid phase was measured using the transient hot-wire method and found that the thermal conductivity of MNH-carbon nanocomposite increased by 62.5% with respect to pristine MNH. The energy storage properties include charging and discharging was also analyzed by a conventional heating system, which confirmed that the presence of carbon nano-material enhances the heat transfer rates. The result implies that the materials used in this study could be used as a potential candidate for thermal energy storage.KeywordsPhase change material (PCM)Carbon nano-materialThermal energy storageHeat transferEnergy management